Microsoft will provide Windows 10 updates for phones so you're not waiting on carriers

Microsoft has taken the reins in regards to future Windows Phone updates, promising that carriers will no longer be a hindrance in getting the latest update for your operating system.

Starting with the launch of Windows 10 Mobile later this year, all personal and business devices running the OS will get updates directly through Microsoft, meaning you won't have to wait weeks (or even months or years) for your carrier to approve and manipulate the update before it gets to you.

Says the company: "Here at Microsoft, we take our responsibility to keep Windows secure seriously. We ... proactively update supported devices with necessary updates to address issues. And today, we're announcing this continuous update process applies to all Windows 10 devices, including phones."

The carriers will not be left out completely, of course, as they will be part of the Insider group of testers that have input in new builds before Microsoft rolls them out.

Apple has operated their updates this way for years, which keeps fragmentation to a minimum. Android has been dogged by huge fragmentation issues since its launch, with nearly 25 percent of users still running versions of Android released in 2012 or earlier.

1 user comment

I am all for this because it does help to have to less fragmentation and keep the overall ecosystem secure. This will make the carriers hate Microsoft though, although ultimately for Apple (mostly due to tradeoff when it comes to iOS popularity) the carriers had to give in (first willing to was Cingular/the new AT&T in 2007). Microsoft does not have nearly that much popularity as a mobile OS so I am not sure how well this will work out.

Perhaps Microsoft will add the crapware (stock apps from the carriers that are often not removable, and useless plugs for random companies) at their office instead of allowing the carriers to do it.